Canucks’ Jim Rutherford admits Quinn Hughes wants to play with brothers

Another Jim Rutherford bomb. This time, it’s about the future of his captain.

During the team’s media availbility on Monday, the Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations stated that defenseman Quinn Hughes has mentioned that he would want to play his brothers, New Jersey Devils forward and defender Jack and Luke Hughes.

The topic arose when Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin were asked about the contract negotiations between Quinn and the Canucks, as the former Michigan Wolverine only has two more years on his current contract that he signed in October 2021.

“It may not boil down to money with [Quinn],” Rutherford said. “He said before he wants to play with his brothers. That would be partly out of our control. In our control if we brought his brothers here.”

It was undoubtedly a stunning remark made by the Stanley Cup champion executive, as the topic of Quinn leaving the Canucks to join his brothers, or vice versa, has been fairly taboo. He immediately realized that he might have spoken a little too much, saying he probably crossed the line.

“Well, we got to be careful with tampering here. So, we’ll just leave it at that.”

Rutherford admitted that losing someone like Hughes is something the team will do its best to avoid.

“The one thing that we will be sure of that we will have enough cap space to offer (Quinn Hughes) the kind of contract that he deserves. That’s the one thing we can prepare for. …  This franchise cannot afford to lose a guy like Quinn Hughes. And we will do everything we can to keep him here, but at the end of the day, it’ll be his decision.”

There has never been an instance where all three Hughes brothers have been on the same team in a top-tier hockey game. Quinn and Jack won silver with Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, while Luke joined Jack on the Devils roster at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Quinn and Jack were supposed to be on the American roster at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but an injury to Quinn forced him to be taken off the roster before the tournament. Quinn was set to join the team before the final against Canada, but ended up not playing.

Luke and Quinn have never been on the same team together.

The Canucks finished fifth in the Pacific Division, missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. The Devils are in the Metropolitan Division Semifinals against the Carolina Hurricanes, trailing the series 1-0 after losing on Saturday.